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Army interpreter guilty of spying Army interpreter guilty of spying
(30 minutes later)
Army interpreter Daniel James, who worked for Britain's top general in Afghanistan, has been found guilty of spying for Iran.Army interpreter Daniel James, who worked for Britain's top general in Afghanistan, has been found guilty of spying for Iran.
The Iranian-born corporal translated for the head of multi-national forces, General David Richards.The Iranian-born corporal translated for the head of multi-national forces, General David Richards.
The court heard he sent coded messages to an Iranian military attache in Kabul telling him "I am at your service". The court heard he sent coded messages to an Iranian military attache in Kabul, saying: "I am at your service".
James, 45, was described in court as a flamboyant fantasist who had once invited his boss to salsa dance. James, 45, from Brighton, was described in court as a flamboyant fantasist who had invited his boss to salsa dance.
He was found guilty of communicating information to an enemy, the most serious of three charges he faced.He was found guilty of communicating information to an enemy, the most serious of three charges he faced.
Jurors are still deliberating charges of collecting documents useful to an enemy and wilful misconduct in public office.Jurors are still deliberating charges of collecting documents useful to an enemy and wilful misconduct in public office.
'Height of betrayal''Height of betrayal'
His treachery could have cost the lives of British soldiers, the court heard. Senior intelligence officers believed that if he had not been arrested his actions could ultimately have cost the lives of UK soldiers and even endangered the security of Britain itself.
Prosecutor Mark Dennis QC said it was "the height of betrayal".Prosecutor Mark Dennis QC said it was "the height of betrayal".
James believed he had been passed over for promotion because of jealousy and racism. After joining the Territorial Army he was sent to Afghanistan in May 2006, where he worked for Gen David Richards, who has since become head of the British Army.
The court heard he told a colleague: "They will have their comeuppance." At the time he headed the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force, a 37-nation coalition comprising 35,000 troops.
He was also £25,000 in debt and had four mortgages on flats in Brighton. James had level one security clearance to move about the base in Kabul and was issued with a "yellow card" detailing General Richards' daily schedule.
James said he remained a loyal British soldier and that those who accused him of being a spy were "mad". James was arrested in December 2006, just two months after he had made contact with Colonel Mohammad Hossein Heydari, an Iranian military assistant based at Tehran's embassy in Kabul.
He was arrested in December 2006, just two months after he had made contact with with Colonel Mohammad Hossein Heydari, an Iranian military assistant based at Tehran's embassy in Kabul. He began sending the colonel coded e-mails, and told him: "I am at your service," the court heard.
'Self-importance' But jurors were told he was arrested before he could become a fully-fledged agent.
Prosecutor Mark Dennis QC said: "He has been described as an extrovert, someone with somewhat grandiose ideas about himself and his own self-importance - something of a Walter Mitty character who would no doubt find his new clandestine role something exciting and special. He turned his back on those with whom he was serving in Afghanistan and sought to become an agent for a foreign power Prosecutor Mark Dennis QC
"Fortunately, his activities were nipped in the bud by the early discovery of what he was doing." James even walked alongside and took pictures of then prime minister Tony Blair when he visited the base.
Mr James worked as a casino croupier, in nightclub security and as a dance instructor before joining the Territorial Army and being sent to Afghanistan in March 2006. The court was told James believed he had been passed over for promotion because of jealousy and racism and told a colleague: "They will have their comeuppance."
But he said he remained a loyal British soldier and that those who accused him of being a spy were "mad".
Prosecutor Mark Dennis QC said: "During the latter part of 2006, the defendant's loyalty to this country wavered and his loyalties turned to Iran, the country of his birth.
"He turned his back on those with whom he was serving in Afghanistan and sought to become an agent for a foreign power."
James was caught "red-handed" by his secret e-mail traffic and was seeking to pass on information useful to insurgents and their backers, Mr Dennis said.
He worked as a casino croupier, in nightclub security and as a salsa dance instructor before joining the Territorial Army.
An MoD spokesman said: "We have noted the verdict of the court in this case. In line with normal procedures the Army will now be discharging Corporal James from the Territorial Army."An MoD spokesman said: "We have noted the verdict of the court in this case. In line with normal procedures the Army will now be discharging Corporal James from the Territorial Army."